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Time Out
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
The Piano Teacher
Haneke's adaptation of a novel by Elfriede Jelinek may be shot, edited and performed rather more conventionally than most of his work, but in many ways it's no less confrontational or transgressive than, say, The Seventh Continent or Funny Games . If the latter was a chaste but provocative variation on the violent thriller, this puts the porn movie through much the same paces, refusing to provide explicit titillation even as it explores the psychopathology of a professor of music, touching 40 but still so oppressed by her tyrannical mother, with whom she still lives, and by the disciplines of her vocation, that her only acquaintance with emotion and eroticism comes from watching porn. Then, into her sad life comes a young student, who falls for her. No conventional redemption ensues, as the pair slide slowly but inexorably into a relationship so painfully twisted it would be implausible, were it not for Haneke's rigorous intelligence and Huppert's controlled and courageous performance. Ambitious, profoundly articulate, and despite its avoidance of sentimentality and sermonising, very compassionate.
News18
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News18
Michael Pitt Accused Of ‘Sexually Abusing' Ex-Girlfriend In New York
Last Updated: The incidents allegedly took place at the actor's home in Brooklyn, New York, between April 2020 and August 2021. American model and actor Michael Pitt, known for his roles in Boardwalk Empire, The Dreamers and Funny Games, is facing a number of criminal charges. A grand jury has indicted the 44-year-old actor on nine criminal charges, including first-degree sexual assault, strangulation and attacking her with a cinder block and a piece of lumber. The incidents allegedly took place at his home in Brooklyn, New York, between April 2020 and August 2021. He was arrested on Friday, May 2 and was presented before the court on the same day, revealed a report by the Associated Press. His lawyers have denied all nine counts of allegations, with one of them, Jason Goldman, even stating that they have exonerating evidence and expect the case to be dismissed soon. 'Unfortunately, we live in a world where somebody like Mr. Pitt — an accomplished professional who would never so much as contemplate these crimes — can be arrested on the uncorroborated word of an unreliable individual," said Michael Pitt's lawyers to the agency. He continued, 'In reality, this baseless claim is suspiciously raised some four or five years after the alleged incident, from a time when the two parties were in a completely consensual relationship." Notably, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez's office has not commented on anything beyond the indictment. Reportedly, the alleged incidents happened on four dates between April 2020 and August 2021. However, it is still unclear if the victim is the same person in every incident, as names were not disclosed in the court records. According to the indictment, the actor 'forcibly touched" his ex-girlfriend in April 2020. In August of the same year, Michael Pitt allegedly engaged in 'forced oral sex" with an individual. On the same day, he even 'assaulted the woman with a 4-inch-by-4-inch piece of wood." In June 2021, the actor 'attacked the individual twice with a cinder block and tried to strangulate her" in August 2021. The charges against the 44-year-old actor are first- and third-degree criminal sexual act, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of second-degree attempted assault, and second-degree strangulation. If found guilty of first-degree criminal sexual abuse, he might be jailed for up to 25 years. Michael Pitt pleaded not guilty and paid $100,000 for bail. He is scheduled to appear in court again on June 17, 2025. First Published:
Euronews
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Broadwalk Empire star charged with sexual abuse and assault
American actor Michael Pitt, best known for his TV roles on Boardwalk Empire and Dawson's Creek, as well as films like Hedwig and the Angry Inch and Funny Games, has been arrested in New York City on charges of sexual abuse. Pitt is accused of sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend, choking her, and attacking her with a cinder block and a piece of lumber at his New York City home, according to a grand jury indictment. Pitt, 44, whose lawyers denied the allegations, was arrested on nine counts, including first-degree sexual abuse, criminal sexual acts, assault, attempted assault and strangulation. The indictment cites four incidents between April 2020 and August 2021 at Pitt's home in the Bushwick section of Brooklyn. Pitt's lawyer, Jason Goldman, said he already had exonerating evidence and expected the case to be dismissed. 'Unfortunately, we live in a world where somebody like Mr. Pitt — an accomplished professional who would never so much as contemplate these crimes — can be arrested on the uncorroborated word of an unreliable individual,' said Goldman. He added: 'In reality, this baseless claim is suspiciously raised some four or five years after the alleged incident, from a time when the two parties were in a completely consensual relationship.' Pitt pleaded not guilty to the charges and posted $100,000 bail. He is due back in court in Brooklyn on 17 June. Pitt, who grew up in West Orange, New Jersey, played the character Jimmy Darmody for two seasons on HBO's Boardwalk Empire, with the cast led by Steve Buscemi winning Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2011 and 2012 for outstanding performance by an ensemble in a drama series. The show also won a Golden Globe for best drama series in 2011. His first major role came in the 2001 film Hedwig and the Angry Inch. In 2005, he starred in Last Days, director Gus Van Sant's film about a fictional rock star inspired by Nirvana frontman Kurt Cobain. The actor was most recently seen in the thriller Asphalt City, the crime drama Reptile and the boxing film Day of the Fight. Real-life cardinals have reportedly turned to the Oscar-winning film Conclave for guidance before casting their votes for Pope Francis' successor. Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church, died on 21 April, aged 88. Voting for the late pontiff's successor is currently under way, with the first round of voting taking place yesterday and ending in black smoke – meaning the cardinals involved were unable to come to a consensus. Since his death, viewership numbers for Edward Berger's award-winning film have skyrocketed. Streaming spiked 283 per cent as word of Pope Francis' passing spread throughout the world, according to Luminate, which tracks viewership of streaming content. The film generated about 1.8 million minutes viewed the day before Pope Francis' death, and by the end of 21 April, that number had reached 6.9 million minutes viewed. Now, according to a recent report from Politico, a number of real-life cardinals and clerics watched Conclave ahead of their voting session, with an unnamed priest telling the publication that the film is seen as 'remarkably accurate', making it a 'helpful research tool'. According to Politico, some cardinals even watched the film in the cinema. 'Some have watched (Conclave) in the cinema,' a cleric said, with Politico adding that the film 'is seen as remarkably accurate even by cardinals' and has been useful 'at a time when so many of the conclave participants have little experience of Vatican politics and protocol.' Indeed, religious experts have praised the accuracy of the film, which dramatises the selection of a new pope. Euronews Culture did a deep dive into the aspects which the film gets right and where it stretches the truth somewhat. Conclave is an adaptation of Robert Harris' novel of the same name, in which Cardinal Thomas Lawrence (Ralph Fiennes) is tasked with leading the College of Cardinals after their pope dies. The film is set over three days at the Vatican, and sees Cardinal Lawrence uncover scandals involving potential candidates. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including nods for Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Picture. It ended up winning one Oscar, with Peter Straughan nabbing the award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The real-life conclave is ongoing, with the second day of voting happening today.
Straits Times
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Boardwalk Empire actor Michael Pitt arrested on sex abuse charges
American actor Michael Pitt at a special screening of Day Of The Fight in Los Angeles in 2024. Pitt was recently arrested on sexual abuse charges in New York. PHOTO: AFP NEW YORK – American actor Michael Pitt, known for his role on the HBO period series Boardwalk Empire (2010 to 2014), was arrested on sexual abuse charges in May, according to the Brooklyn district attorney's office. Pitt was arraigned on May 2 in Kings County Supreme Criminal Court on charges based on encounters from April 2020 through August 2021. He was charged with nine counts, including first-degree sexual abuse, second-degree assault and second-degree strangulation. The 44-year-old pleaded not guilty to all charges. His next court appearance is set for June 17. An indictment outlining the accusations against Pitt said he forcibly touched an unnamed woman and later engaged in oral sex without her consent. The indictment also said Pitt had injured her with a wooden plank and a cinder block on separate occasions. Mr Jason Goldman, Pitt's lawyer, said on May 7 that his client had secured bail and was released from custody. Pitt does not have contact with his accuser, he said. 'Unfortunately, we live in a world where somebody like Mr Pitt – an accomplished professional who would never so much as contemplate these crimes – can be arrested on the uncorroborated word of an unreliable individual,' Mr Goldman said in a statement. He said the claims had been raised several years after the encounters were said to have taken place, when Pitt and his accuser were in a consensual relationship. 'We have already uncovered exonerating evidence, and this case will be dismissed,' he said. A representative for the district attorney's office declined to comment. Pitt's acting credits include several episodes of teen drama Dawson's Creek (1998 to 2003) and the movies, satirical psychological thriller Funny Games (2007) and crime thriller Reptile (2023). He played James Darmody, known as Jimmy, on the first two seasons of the 1920s-set crime drama Boardwalk Empire. His character was killed off in a shooting. NYTIMES Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Michael Pitt Indicted on 9 Counts, Including Sexual Abuse and Assault
Michael Pitt, star of HBO's Boardwalk Empire, was arrested and arraigned in Brooklyn last week on nine criminal counts, including sexual abuse and assault. The charges stem from incidents alleged to have occurred between 2020 and 2021. Pitt, 43, entered a not-guilty plea to all counts during his May 2 court appearance. His legal team maintains his innocence, calling the claims 'unsubstantiated' and vowing to prove his innocence in court. A grand jury indictment obtained by People details the allegations, which include oral sex without consent, forcible touching, and multiple assaults. The indictment outlines incidents on four separate dates between April 2020 and August 2021, though it remains unclear whether the same alleged victim is involved in each case. Names have been redacted from the court documents. Related: Study Finds America's Riskiest States for Sex According to the indictment, on April 19, 2020, Pitt allegedly forcibly touched an individual's anus and vagina. On August 5 of that year, he allegedly engaged in non-consensual oral sex and assaulted a person with a piece of wood. Further allegations include an attempted assault with a cinderblock in June 2021 and an alleged strangulation in August 2021. The charges Pitt faces include first- and third-degree criminal sexual act, two counts of first-degree sexual abuse, two counts of second-degree assault, two counts of second-degree attempted assault, and second-degree strangulation. The most serious charge carries a potential prison sentence of five to 25 years if convicted. Pitt's lawyer, Cary London, issued a statement expressing confidence in Pitt's defense. 'Unfortunately, we live in a world where somebody like Mr. Pitt—an accomplished professional who would never so much as contemplate these crimes—can be arrested on the uncorroborated word of an unhinged individual,' London said. Pitt rose to fame as a teen in Dawson's Creek and gained critical acclaim for roles in The Dreamers and Funny Games. He became a household name playing Jimmy Darmody on Boardwalk Empire before leaving the series midway through its run. Pitt is scheduled to return to court on June 17.
